posted Sep 1st, 2026 - Germany's 4-way teams follow up on the British Outdoor Nationals last weekend, and participation almost matches last year's event, with 21 teams competing in three 4-way competition classes (AA – AA – A), compared to 22 teams across all four categories last year. The British outdoor championship featured an even higher number of teams across its four competition classes this year (28 – 24).

The two national outdoor championships taking place in very short succession allow for another evaluation of the run-up to the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026. The national 4-way Open Class teams of both countries—SOAR for Great Britain and Airbus 4-way Illertissen for Germany—have now posted their latest scores, providing an opportunity to see how closely matched they are in the expected battle for 4th place behind the medal contenders and for the unofficial title of the best amateur team in the world.

The German team, however, offered a surprise that came unexpectedly for teams, competitors, and audience alike. The lineup changed only eight weeks before Round 1 of the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026. However, it seems that the change has not had too much of a negative impact on Airbus 4-way Illertissen. Five rounds were completed on Tuesday, and the new lineup is currently standing at a 19.4 average after five challenging sequences. SOAR, the British top contender for 4th place in Eloy, finished with a 20.1 average after all ten rounds last weekend.

The change in the Airbus lineup brings back the rear piece from four previous Airbus seasons (2021–2024), when Felix Pfeiffer and Alexander Prendinger worked together, while Sarah Mertes (Point) and Thomas Mack (Outside Center) formed the front piece. Alexander Prendinger did not continue in 4-way after the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2024, although he remained a member of the Operation Adler 8-way team. There, he also continued to be teammates with Felix Pfeiffer, who has continued to perform double duties in both 4-way and 8-way.

German Outdoor Nationals 2026		1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11		Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	4,17,11		K,5,19		E,22,A,H		3,B,6		8,D,O,9		F,16,N,20		13,14,10		18,G,L,15		2,21,Q		P,1,7		C,M,J,12		Total	Avg
1	Airbus 4-way Illertissen	14	-1	19		23		20		21		-		-		-		-		-		-		97	19.4
2	Meltemi Oceanside Illertissen	12		15		17		15		16		-		-		-		-		-		-		75	15.0
3	Dark NeVa	10		12		15		14		12		-		-		-		-		-		-		63	12.6
4	Fi4na	10		11		13		12		13		-		-		-		-		-		-		59	11.8
5	Kommt noch	11		11		13		8	-3	13		-		-		-		-		-		-		56	11.2
6	Devil's Dive	8		9		10	-1	10		12		-		-		-		-		-		-		49	9.8
7	Pace Gojump Gransee	7	-1	9	-1	9	-1	11		12	-1	-		-		-		-		-		-		48	9.6

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Airbus 4-way Illertissen at the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2024

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Airbus 4-way Illertissen replaced Sarah Mertes and Alexander Prendinger with Thomas Mack's son, Tim, in the point slot, while Claire Rebhahn became the new tail in 2025. Moritz Mack has been filming the team ever since. There is one important difference, though, between that lineup and the current one competing at Germany's national outdoor championship.

Felix Pfeiffer was in the tail slot between 2021 and 2024, while his previous and current piece partner, Alexander Prendinger, worked in the center alongside Thomas Mack. Felix Pfeiffer switched to inside center in 2025, when Alexander Prendinger did not continue and Claire Rebhahn joined the team in the tail slot.

Felix now brings two years of knowledge and experience from the other position in the rear piece before returning to the tail. Inside center is Alexander Prendinger's A-slot, where he accumulated four years of training and competition experience. The Airbus 4-way Illertissen team is now back together, with only Tim Mack as a new member in the point slot, which he is performing in for the second year.

The new Airbus constellation could make the team even stronger, now that Felix Pfeiffer has switched back to his A-slot from 2021–2024 while also bringing additional inside-center experience. It therefore does not seem to be a big surprise that Airbus is standing at a 19.4 average at halftime, and the coming five rounds could reveal even more of the team's new strength.

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Airbus 4-way Illertissen at the Paranodon Cup 2026

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Germany Outdoor Nationals 2026		1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11		Total	Avg
Rank	AA Class	13,D,8		O,9,J		6,N,22		20,18		15,21		A,Q,F,19		11,7		14,1		E,G,C,H		B,4,P		K,2,L		Total	Avg
1	Team Spirit	10		14		10		9		8		-		-		-		-		-		-		51	10.2
2	MoSkyto	7		14		9		7		7		-		-		-		-		-		-		44	8.8
3	Flying Cowboys	6		16		8		7		6		-		-		-		-		-		-		43	8.6
4	On Air	7		14		8		6		6		-		-		-		-		-		-		41	8.2
5	Paranodon Imparable	7		14		7		6		5		-		-		-		-		-		-		39	7.8
6	Paranodon Trick und Treat	6		15		7		4		5		-		-		-		-		-		-		37	7.4
7	Paranodon Fandango	7		11		7		3		5		-		-		-		-		-		-		33	6.6
Rank	A Class	7,19		L,4		C,E,B		9,N		2,M		K,O,Q		D,F,P		21,H		8,A		G,J,6		H,J,B		Total	Avg
1	Airtron	9		6		17		11		12		-		-		-		-		-		-		55	11.0
2	Four Elements	8		6		15		9		10		-		-		-		-		-		-		48	9.6
3	Fallobst	7		5		13		7		8		-		-		-		-		-		-		40	8.0
4	KronYUUwelen	7		5		7		10		8		-		-		-		-		-		-		37	7.4
5	Sabrewings FSZ Saar	3		3		8		6		7		-		-		-		-		-		-		27	5.4
5	G-Force	0		3		9		7		8		-		-		-		-		-		-		27	5.4
7	Folgt	4		3		2		3		4		-		-		-		-		-		-		16	3.2

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